Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece celebrated his team’s qualification for the World Cup’s round of 32 in a heartwarming scene on Thursday, climbing into the stands to share his joy with his family.
Ecuador upset four-time champions Germany 2-1 to qualify from Group E as one of the eight best third-placed teams, in the unlikeliest of escapes.
Beccacece’s team were arguably unlucky to fall behind to Leroy Sane’s opener after a high boot from Aleksandar Pavlovic in the build-up, but Nilson Angulo soon equalised for the underdogs, before Gonzalo Plata snatched a second-half winner.
Germany still went through as group leaders, having beaten Curacao and Ivory Coast – the latter of whom qualified in second place – but they will be joined in the knockouts by Ecuador and a jubilant Beccacece.
The manager celebrated his side’s victory in New Jersey by hauling himself up to the front row of the stands, embracing his family and kissing his wife.
The Argentine, 45, did so one day after declaring that he would step down as Ecuador coach if his team failed to escape their group.
Ecuador had begun their group campaign by losing to Ivory Coast, who triumphed thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Amad Diallo.
And they followed that result with a 0-0 draw against Curacao, arguably the biggest underdogs at the tournament, in what they will have seen as a huge missed opportunity to collect points.
However, Thursday’s miraculous victory over Germany has taken them through to the round of 32, where Thomas Tuchel’s England will await if they can top Group L.
